SINGAPORE, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore’s continued drive to attract the best in local and international biomedical talent is one of the key reasons the country has been so successful in achieving its goal of becoming ‘the Biopolis of Asia’. Minister for Education Tharman Shanmugaratnam highlighted this today as part of his welcome address at BioMedical Asia 2004 and BioTechnica Asia 2004. He officially kicked off the three-day event organised around the theme The Science Behind the Drug.
Singapore’s primary focus over the past few years has been to put in place human capital policies that have benefited Singapore’s biomedical sciences industry. According to Minister Shanmugaratnam, Singapore welcomes international experts from all around the world but also places equal emphasis on local scientific talent development. Thanks to recent changes, Singapore students now have more avenues to undertake biomedical research through student outreach programmes and new courses offered in polytechnics and universities.
“Singapore’s biomedical sciences industry has seen the benefits of the heavy emphasis on human capital development in the few short years since we identified biomedical sciences as the fourth pillar of growth,” said Mr Philip Yeo, Chairman for the Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR) and Co-Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) for the Biomedical Sciences Group.
Over the next three days, experts from around the world will convene at BioMedical Asia 2004 and BioTechnica Asia 2004 for discussions, networking, and education that will have effects for years to come as Asia starts to make new medical discoveries and participate in the development of new drug therapies.
On the first and second day, an international lineup of speakers will share their experiences and give insights at four sessions designed to help researchers and biomedical professionals from around the region better understand The Science Behind the Drug. The sessions are: “From Science to Blockbuster"; “New Therapeutic Modalities"; “Commercialising Research: From Lab to Clinic"; and “Cutting-Edge Technologies.”
The list of illustrious speakers includes Dr Alan Colman, Director of ES Cell International; Prof Sir David Lane, Executive Director of Singapore’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology; Dr William Chin, Vice President Research of Eli Lilly & Co, Dr Kazuhiko Tanzawa, Director, Sankyo; Dr Nick Dean, VP of Functional Genomics, ISIS Pharmaceuticals; and Dr Peter Buckel, CEO, Atugen.
An international showcase of biomedical companies also will be participating at the exhibition as well as national and association pavilions, research centres, universities and hospitals. Among them: Johns Hopkins Singapore Pte. Ltd, Swiss House Singapore, Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany and the UK Trade and Investment of the British High Commission, Singapore.
BioMedical Asia will conclude with the Partnering Seminar, which provides a rare opportunity for networking between global private equity investors and start-up companies. Dr Mark Wan of Three Arch Partners and Dr Ansbert Gadicke of the MPM Group will give keynote sessions on “VC Insight -- Investment Trend for Medical Technology” and “Global Trend for Biotechnology Investments,” respectively.
More facts about BioMedical Asia * 23 speakers will share their expertise in seven program sessions. * The exhibition hall features 100 exhibitors who will be displaying state-of-the-art technologies. * Singapore-based medical doctors participating in BMA 2004 can receive up to 11 continuing medical education (CME) points. * There will be a public lecture on “Women in Science” by Dr. Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson, President and Professor of Physiology of the Karolinska Institutet on 13 October 2004 at the Canning Room, Raffles City Convention Centre (5:15 to 6:15 PM). * BMA-BTA 2002 attracted approximately 800 conference delegates and 2,400 exhibition visitors.
BMA-BTA 2004 is co-organised by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB; http://www.biomed-singapore.com/) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR; http://www.a-star.edu.sg/), together with Deutsche Messe AG (http://www.messe.de/) and Hannover Fairs Asia Pte Ltd. (http://www.hfasin.com/).
For more information: Daphne Teo Clarissa Tan Ruder Finn Asia Ruder Finn Asia + 65 6235 4495 + 65 6235 4495 + 65 9437 8070 + 65 9688 0013 teod@ruderfinnasia.comtanc@ruderfinnasia.com
Singapore Economic Development Board
CONTACT: Daphne Teo, +65-6235-4495, +65-9437-8070,teod@ruderfinnasia.com, or Clarissa Tan, +65-6235-4495, +65-9688-0013,tanc@ruderfinnasia.com, both of Ruder Finn Asia, for the Singapore EconomicDevelopment Board
